Chain



(Model.)

B. L.'HOWE.

- Chain.

No. 240,132. Patented April 12,1881.

jam 9M1 N-PETE-RS. PHOTD-LITMOGRAPNH'I, WASHINGTON D. C.

v UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EUGENE L. HOWE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CHAIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 240,132, dated April 12, 1881.

Application filed February 17, 1881. (Modoh) To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EUGENE L. HOWE, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Chains; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this application.

My present invention relates to an improvement more particularly applicable to cablechains, and has for its object to produce a link for this kind of chains which, while it may be taken to pieces without changing the condition of any of its parts for the well-known purposes of detachable chains, shall possess substantially the same degree of strength and durability as a link made of one solid piece.

To this main end and object my invention consists in a chain-link composed of two parts, each of whichhas a portion at one side of its contour entirely removed, and which two parts are adapted to interlock both transversely and longitudinally of the link by the embedment of the curved end portions and the lug-like end projections of one part in the curved depressions and transverse lug-receptacles of the other part in such manner as to produce, when put together, a link which shall have the middle portion of each side bar or part solid and of the full thickness of the stock of the link, and which shall also present substantially the shape of and possess substantially the same degree of strength as a solid cable-link, all as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to more fully describe it, referring by letters to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a face view of a chain-link made according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the opposite side or face of the link. Fig. 3 shows the two parts of the link separated. Fig. 4 is an edge view of the link as it would appear looking at the left-hand edge of Fig. 1. At Fig. 5 is shown, in similar view,the opposite edge of the link. Fig. 6 is an edge view, illustrating the manipulation of the parts necessary to a separation of them. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal central section of the link; and Fig. 8 a transverse central section.

In the several figures the same parts,-when visible, will be found designated by the same letter of reference.

A is one, and B the other, of the two "parts composing the link. The part B is hollowed out or made with a deep depression, 6?, at the locality of each end, but on opposite faces of the part, which depressions are tapering to correspond with the shape of the end portions of partA that are to be accommodated by embedment within said depressions, and each of the latter terminates with a sort of cross recess or hollow, e, all best seen at Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, from which it will be observed that the said depressions d and crossrecesses 'e are adapted to and do receive and holdthe end portions and T-shaped heads or parts 0 c of the part A of the link. The ends of the C- shaped part A, carrying the heads 0 c, are bent, as it were, to one side of the link part in opposite directions, as best seen at Fig. 6, so that these portions, adapted to lie partially incased within the hollowed-out portions d e of part B, may occupy positions on opposite sides of, or at opposite faces of, the link part B, as clearly shown.

When the parts A B are put together, as seen at Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, and 8, the link presents apparently the form and structure of the ordinary solid cable-chain link, and a series of coupled links composed thus of said partsproduces a chain resembling outwardly, and possessing substantially the strength and wearing capacity of, a solid-link chain; but when desired to uncouple the parts of a chain made of such duplex links, as shown, (at any point in thechain for the usual purposes,) this may be easily effected by turning the parts toward the relative position illustrated at Fig. 6, whereby the embedded and interlocked end portions and cross-heads 0 c ofthe part Aare withdrawn from the recesses or cavities d eof the part B.

It will be seen that when the parts A B are put together not only do the portions 0 0 embedded in the recesses at e e constitute a deadlock against any tendency of the parts A B to pull apart under the draft strain, but the em- I DO bedment of such other portions of A as lie in the recesses d of part B also operates to effect a perfect retention together of the parts of the link, since the adjacent coupled links of the chain operate to more securely confine the embedded and incasing parts together as the draft strain increases; and it will be observed that while each part of the link is entirely cut away at one side, the other side of each is the whole width and thickness of the stock of the link, and that hence when the two parts shall have been coupled together in the manner shown, not only are all parts of the duplex link substantially equal in strength to the corresponding parts of a solid link, but said link has its side bars for a. considerable distance (at each side of the link) exactly the same as the corresponding portions of a solid link.

I have shown the contour of the link as being elliptical or oval; but the shape, as well they may be made of other material and otherwise than by casting if deemed expedient.

By means of a duplex link, such as shown and described, I can produce a detachable cable-chain the links of which can have comparatively short open spaces or eyes, since the detachment of the parts A B can be effected without very much room or play in said eyes of the links coupled to said part.

If deemed expedient, the parts A B, in lieu of being made as shown and described, may be each made with one incasing end portion, such as d e, and one end portion, such as A has, so that the two parts of links will be duplicate in size and shape and yet interlock, and go together and come apart in substantially the same manner as shown and described of the parts A B. As, however, this duplicate form of parts, otherwise embracing substantially the same principle as the chain-link herein shown, forms the subject-matter of another application by me, in which I have set up a claim of a less generic nature than that set up in this case, I need not here further allude to said duplicate form of parts. Other forms, also, may be adopted without changing the novel nature of the chain-link made the subject of my present invention, the gist of which, it will be seen, is in making a duplex link of two parts which have portions of each embedded. in cavities of the other, and each of which has a solid side-bar portion equal to the whole bigness of the stock of the link, the said two parts being adapted to go together and come apart substantially as explained, and at the same time having the capacity for a perfect retention together and operation as a solid link under the action of a draft strain or pulling force.

Having so fully explained the nature of my invention, and described it so that anyone ordin-arily skilled in the art can make and use chain embracing said invention, what 1 herein claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- A chain-link consisting of two C-shaped parts, one of which, A, has transverse lugs or projections at its ends, and the other of which, B, has recesses ending in transverse depressions conforming to the shape of the end portions and end lugs of the part A, the two parts being adapted to go together and come apart, and operate, when united, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto setmy haud this 8th day of November, 1880.

EUGENE L. HOWE.

In presence of O. R. MATSON, WILLIAM D. EWART. 

